Closure Cap

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a closure cap ( 1 ) with an outlet connection piece, which can be opened and closed by displacing a telescopic part ( 6 ) along a central axis of the closure and has a mouth portion ( 5 ), the telescopic part ( 6 ) being displaceable on the connection piece ( 4 ) while guided on the outside thereof, the closed position being latched and a closure stopper ( 9 ) being provided, molded onto the telescopic part ( 6 ) by means of cross-pieces ( 8 ) leaving throughflow openings ( 7 ). To provide a configuration enhancing its functional features but not requiring any significant additional expenditure, for instance with regard to a molding tool required, the invention proposes that the closure stopper ( 9 ) latching in the mouth portion ( 5 ) is molded on by means of cross-pieces ( 8 ) that run in superposed alignment with an end face ( 11 ′) of the connection piece ( 4 ).

The invention relates to a closure cap with an outlet connection piece, which can be opened and closed by displacing a telescopic part along a central axis of the closure and has a mouth portion, the telescopic part being displaceable on the connection piece while guided on the outside thereof, the closed position being latched and a closure stopper being provided, molded onto the telescopic part by means of cross-pieces leaving throughflow openings.

Closure caps of this kind, which may be screwed or press-fitted onto an associated container or connected to the container in some other way, are known in various embodiments. Reference is made for example to EP 1 065 150 A1.

Even if such closure caps have proven successful in principle and are widely encountered, there is still a need to configure such a closure cap in a way enhancing its functional features but not requiring any significant additional expenditure, for instance with regard to a molding tool required.

This object is achieved in the case of the subject matter of Claim 1 of the present application first and foremost by providing that the closure stopper latching in the mouth portion is molded on by means of cross-pieces that run in superposed alignment with an end face of the connection piece.

It is important that the latching in the mouthpiece portion of the connection piece is realized by the closure stopper. The fact that the connection of the closure stopper is provided by cross-pieces that reach over the end face of the connection piece, or at least run in superposed alignment with it, means that the telescopic part is formed substantially as a cup with throughflow openings formed in the base. As a result, a relatively large opening area can be realized overall. Depending on the configuration, in the closed state the throughflow openings are also effectively closed by the end face of the connection piece extending under them. It could even be provided that the end face protrudes into the throughflow openings by corresponding elevations. With regard to the comparison mentioned, the cup is slipped over the connection piece from above with the cup opening facing downward. Emptying in the opened state is also advantageous. The liquid leaving the container through the mouth can flow around the closure stopper and come out through the throughflow openings. Some of the throughflow openings may also be used at the same time for allowing air to enter. On the other hand, the end face of the telescopic part is substantially closed, in particular when a drink is taken directly from the closure cap.

The further claims represent advantageous configurations of the teaching presented in Claim 1, but may also respectively be of importance in their independent formulation.

Firstly, it is preferred that the mouth portion has a mouth funnel. The mouth funnel serves for receiving and introducing the closure stopper during the movement from the open position into the closed position. However, it is also advantageous with respect to running-out characteristics. This mouth funnel may be configured in such a way that it is made to taper toward the container. It correspondingly tapers from the outside inward. To this extent it is preferred that the mouth funnel is formed on the outer edge of the mouth, said outer edge forming the said end face, by means of its region of larger diameter. The mouth funnel is correspondingly provided in such a way that it is rotationally symmetrical in relation to a central axis of the closure cap.

It is also preferred that the said mouth portion has a latching portion, which in the closed state engages behind a corresponding latching formation of the closure stopper. For this purpose, it is further preferred that the closure stopper is formed with a corresponding configuration. In the closed state, a lower edge of the closure stopper protrudes beyond the lower edge of the mouth portion or of the funnel.

Together with the cross-pieces and a peripheral edge portion, which preferably also runs out into a projecting gripping edge, the upper or outer surface of the closure stopper forms a virtually planar end face. This is technically advantageous with respect to cleaning and at the same time also pleasant when it is used as a drinking closure. The openings between the cross-pieces are preferably of such a size that it is virtually impossible for the tongue to penetrate.

It is also preferred that, in the closed state, a cavity remains between an inner surface of the cross-pieces, or regions adjoining them, or at least adjoining or further regions of the telescopic part, and the associated end face of the connection piece. This is so because it has been found that, when this closure is used as a drinking closure on a bottle, which is the entirely customary way in which it is used, residues of liquid are deposited on the shoulder of the connection piece, for instance in the form of drops, in the open state. If the telescopic part is then pressed downward, to close the bottle, these residues of liquid are displaced and may even be squirted out. The said cavity, which is adapted to the quantity of the residues of liquid collecting there, prevents such occurrences. On account of the openings between the cross-pieces, which also remain in the closed state, such residues of liquid can then readily dry out however. On account of the surface tension, it is even unlikely for them to drip out if such a bottle happens to fall over.

With regard to the telescopic part, a special configuration is also obtained by the cross-pieces extending obliquely downward, as seen from the outer edge. In other words, in the case of this configuration the cross-pieces have an obliquely upward and outward extent, with respect to a horizontal line, starting from their radially inner region of attachment to the closure stopper. Therefore, the openings do not lie directly freely in the end face but are as it were formed in a funnel area. The angle with respect to the horizontal may vary. It is preferably an acute angle in the range from 5 to 85°. In principle, however, a right angle is also possible, whereby the openings then extend virtually in a cylindrical area.

A special measure also provides that lugs are formed in the end face of the connection piece in such a way that they are distributed and spaced apart from one another and are associated with a radially outer edge of the end face. These lugs may even be formed as spring elements, for instance by means of a certain undercut. This produces a punctiform support for the telescopic part on the connection piece in the closed state and possibly a certain pretensioning in the latching, which can contribute to even better sealing of the latching.

The invention is further explained below on the basis of the accompanying drawing, which however merely represents one exemplary embodiment. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure cap, with an overcap fitted on;

FIG. 2 shows an enlargement taken from the region II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the closure cap according to FIG. 1 without an overcap, in the open state;

FIG. 4 shows an enlargement taken from the region IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a view of the telescopic part from above;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the telescopic part;

FIG. 7 shows a figure corresponding to FIG. 1, with the screwed-on portion of the closure cap reduced in diameter;

FIG. 8 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 7, without an overcap and in the open state;

FIG. 9 shows a representation according to FIG. 1 of a slightly modified embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows an enlargement taken from the region X in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows an enlargement taken from the region XI in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows the subject matter according to FIG. 9, after removal of the overcap, in the open state;

FIG. 13 shows an enlargement taken from the region XIII in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows a plan view of the subject matter according to FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 shows a further modified embodiment in a representation according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 9:

FIG. 16 shows the subject matter according to FIG. 15, after removal of the overcap, in the open state;

FIG. 17 shows a perspective representation of the telescopic part in the case of a subject matter according to FIG. 15 or FIG. 16.

Represented and described, first with reference to FIG. 1, is a closure 1 produced by the plastics injection-molding process, which, for attachment to a container, is formed in the lower region with a screw portion 2, on which a tamperproof strip 3 is formed further down.

The screw portion 2 goes over in a step-shaped manner, with step-shaped inward narrowing, into a connection piece 4 with a mouth portion 5.

A telescopic part 6 is guided on the outside of the connection piece 4. Formed on the telescopic part 6 are cross-pieces 8, which leave throughflow openings 7, cf. FIGS. 5 and 6, and go over into a central closure stopper 9.

The end face of the telescopic part 6 is made up of an outer edge portion 21, running around the periphery as a closed ring, and an inner closed end face 22, formed by the closure stopper, as well as the cross-pieces 8 extending in between. The edge portion 21 is extended into an overhanging gripping portion 23. As illustrated in further detail in FIG. 2, for instance, it is preferred that, up to a transition 24 formed in the region of the closure stopper 9, the end face rises to a concave area 25, and then goes over into the central concave area 25 of the closure stopper. The angle of the rising area with respect to a horizontal line is small. It is an acute angle of a few degrees, for instance in the range from 1 to 15°.

The cross-pieces 8 run in superposed alignment with an end face 11′ of the connection piece 4. The end face 11′ is made up specifically of the area component of the outer edge 11 and the area component of the funnel portion 10. In the case of the exemplary embodiment, the cross-pieces 8 respectively reach over both area components—even if not completely (in cross section).

As FIG. 2 also illustrates in greater detail, in the closed state the closure stopper 9 is latched in the mouth 5.

To be specific, the mouth portion 5 forms a funnel portion 10, which goes over integrally with its region of larger diameter into an outer edge 11 on the end face of the mouth or the connection piece 4. The funnel part 10, which tapers approximately at an angle of 45° in relation to its perpendicular central axis and correspondingly tapers toward the container, goes over in its portion of smallest diameter into a vertical portion 12. This vertical portion 12 is at the same time used for the latching with the closure stopper 9. This is so because the closure stopper 9 has a vertical portion 13 of corresponding diameter and shape, which is exceeded in terms of diameter on the underside by an edge bead 14. On the upper side, the latching region 13 goes over via a widening portion 15 into a top stopper face 16.

Therefore, in the closed state the telescopic part 6 is latched by means of the latching portions of the mouth portion 5 and of the closure stopper 9.

If desired, a means of latching in the open state may also be formed on the outer surface of the connection piece 4, in the region where the telescopic part 6 interacts with the mouth portion 5. However, this is not the case in the exemplary embodiment.

The overcap 17, which can be seen in FIG. 1 and engages over the unit comprising the connection piece 4 and the telescopic part 6 in the closed state and, before being used for the first time, with a tamperproof seal provided by means of a tamperproof ring 18, is for its part also secured by latching on the connection piece 4. This is accomplished by interacting projections and recesses 19, 20 in the first step portion of the connection piece 4.

The overcap 17 only fits in a latching manner onto the connection piece 4 when the closure stopper 9 is in the closed position according to FIG. 2.

It is evident from the representations of FIGS. 3 and 4 that the closure stopper 9 is formed with such an extent into the interior with respect to the telescopic part 6, and the funnel portion 10 with such an extent toward the container, that, in the open state, as it is represented in FIGS. 3 and 4, a lower edge of the closure stopper 9 finishes approximately in line with the outer edge of the mouth. The closure stopper 9 itself is formed as a cup, with a cup base curved toward the interior of the container and, at the bottom of the cup, leg regions formed from thicker material and curving radially outward. These leg regions, or the wall of the cup, at the same time form the sealing and latching portion of the closure stopper 9.

As FIGS. 5 and 6 show in detail with respect to the telescopic part 6, a multiplicity of throughflow openings 7 are formed, to be specific in the case of the exemplary embodiment eight throughflow openings 7. This makes smooth emptying or drinking possible, one or more of the openings also being able to be used at the same time to allow air to enter.

In the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the lower fitting region of the closure cap 1 is, as already mentioned, formed in a narrowed manner. This correspondingly produces only a configuration of slightly smaller diameter of the lower edge of the overcap 17, and consequently also of the tamperproof ring 18 formed on the overcap 17, with respect to the edge formed on the underside of the cap or the tamperproof ring 18 formed on it.

A modified embodiment is represented with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13 of the drawing.

The modifications primarily concern the associated regions, at the end face, of the telescopic part 6 and of the connection piece 4.

As illustrated by FIG. 9, but in particular also by the enlargement according to FIG. 10, between an inner surface 26 of the cross-pieces 8, of the edge portion 21 and of the closure stopper 9 there is a distance a from the end face 11′ of the connection piece 4, which results in a cavity 28 which is also present specifically in the closed state. It is evident that the distance a is formed such that it changes in the radial direction, to be specific in the case of the exemplary embodiment increasing radially inward. However, there is also an initially constant smaller radial distance a in the region of the shoulder 29 of the connection piece 4 and the associated face 26 of the telescopic part 6.

Any residues of liquid that may be deposited in this region in the open state consequently also find sufficient space in the closed state, so that they are not for instance squeezed out in the course of closing.

The distance a is in each case also provided in an encircling manner. In the case of the exemplary embodiment, therefore, the cavity is produced as a corresponding annular space, only interrupted by the lugs 27 in the region of the step face 29.

The lugs 27 are formed in the end face 11′ in the radially outer region, to be specific in the case of the exemplary embodiment in the region of the mentioned step face 29 of the connection piece 4. As is to be gathered from FIG. 10, in the closed state they maintain a spacing between the telescopic part 6 and the connection piece 4 also in this region, in the sense of the distance a in the vertical direction. They may also be resiliently formed, so that they contribute to the sealing closure between the latching bead 14 of the closure stopper 9 and the associated vertical portion 12, or specifically the mating face 12′ coming into contact with the latching bead 14.

The funnel portion 10 has a rib formation 30, which is moreover elevated above the end face 11, of the funnel 10. Starting from the upper, radially outer region of the funnel 10, this rib 30 is formed such that it extends radially inward. In the case of the exemplary embodiment, however, it ends at a distance before the vertical portion 13 of the closure stopper 9. Preferably, such a rib is only formed once over the circumference. It may be used for instance for orientation during assembly, if required in an individual case. As can also be gathered for instance from FIG. 14, the width of the rib corresponds approximately to two to three times the width of a cross-piece 8 between two throughflow openings 7.

As further illustrated for instance by the representation of a detail in FIG. 11, in the exemplary embodiment described the overcap 17 is formed in the first step portion of the connection piece 4 with a peripheral latching groove 31, which interacts with a corresponding latching bead 32, formed on the perpendicular face of the first step portion of the connection piece 4.

Further provided in the second step portion 33 of the connection piece 4 are tamperproof formations 34, in which the tamperproof ring 35 correspondingly engages, which leads to shearing off in the region 36 when the overcap 17 is removed for the first time.

The representations of FIGS. 12 and 13 also illustrate that the telescopic part is raised in the open state to the extent that a lower edge of the closure stopper 9 extends approximately at the height of the end face 11, at the outer edge of the connection piece 4, in the case of the detail of FIG. 12 at the height of the lugs 27. A corresponding opening displacement is also obtained in the case of the first exemplary embodiment, as described above.

The embodiment of FIGS. 15 to 17 differs from the previously described embodiments in the main in that the throughflow openings 7 or the cross-pieces 8 forming them are shaped in such a way that a funnel-like extent of the telescopic part, widening radially outward, is obtained in this region.

With respect to a horizontal line H, the throughflow openings 7 that can be seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, or the cross-pieces 8 forming them, run upward, in the case of the exemplary embodiment with a relatively small acute angle α of about 10 to 15°. It is not required here that the openings 7 or the cross-pieces 8 run in a way corresponding to a straight line. They may, for example, also run in a way corresponding to a curved line. In the case of the exemplary embodiment, furthermore, the end face of the closure stopper 9 is incorporated by continuous continuation into the concave formation thereby achieved overall. As a departure from this, an opposite convex formation may be formed for instance in the region of the closure stopper 9.

As illustrated by the perspective representation of FIG. 17, this also contributes to a reduction in the apparent size of the throughflow openings 7 in the outer appearance.

The radial width of a throughflow opening 7 may be provided preferably in the range from 1 to 3 mm, more preferably it may be 2 mm. The peripheral width of a throughflow opening 7, see also FIG. 14 for the second embodiment or FIG. 5 for the first embodiment, may be 1.5 to three times its radial extent.

All disclosed features are (in themselves) pertinent to the invention. The disclosure content of the associated/accompanying priority documents (copy of the prior patent application) is also hereby incorporated in full in the disclosure of the application, including for the purpose of incorporating features of these documents in claims of the present application. 

1: Closure cap (1) with an outlet connection piece, which can be opened and closed by displacing a telescopic part (6) along a central axis of the closure and has a mouth portion (5), the telescopic part (6) being displaceable on the connection piece (4) while guided on the outside thereof, the closed position being latched and a closure stopper (9) being provided, molded onto the telescopic part (6) by means of cross-pieces (8) leaving throughflow openings (7), wherein the closure stopper (9) latching in the mouth portion (5) is molded on by means of cross-pieces (8) that run in superposed alignment with an end face (11′) of the connection piece (4). 2: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mouth portion (5) has a mouth funnel. 3: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mouth funnel is formed in such a way that it is made to taper toward the container. 4: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mouth funnel is formed on an outer edge (11) of the mouth portion by means of its region of larger diameter. 5: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mouth portion has a latching portion, which in the closed state engages behind a corresponding latching formation of the closure stopper (9). 6: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein, in the closed state, an inner surface (26) of the cross-pieces (8) and/or of the edge portion (21) and/or of the closure stopper (9) of the telescopic part (6) runs at a distance (a) from an end face (11) of the connection piece (4). 7: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the distance (a), formed over a radial extent and in the circumferential direction, forms a cavity which in the closed state accommodates residual liquid remaining there in the open state. 8: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cross-pieces (8) extend upward with respect to a horizontal line, starting from their radially inner region of attachment. 9: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the end face (11) is partly formed by lugs (27) disposed in such a way that they are distributed over the circumference and circumferentially spaced apart from one another. 